Storing Kodak HC110

IanBarber · Jun 13, 2016

I am just curious as to how those that use HC110 store it.

This bottle I have was given to me by another photographer who bought it about 3 years ago. I try to keep out the air by squeezing the sides of the bottle until the developer riser to the top.

The issue I am facing now is that I am finding it difficult to squeeze the sides any more.

How do you store your HC110 and do you really need to push the air out of this stuff.

MattKing · Jun 13, 2016

IanBarber said:
How do you store your HC110 and do you really need to push the air out of this stuff.

Normally, in the bottle, without squeezing.

Squeezing probably accelerates any deterioration, because it will tend to suck in moisture laden air.

HC-110 only reacts with oxygen if there is water present.

IanBarber · Jun 13, 2016

MattKing said:
Squeezing probably accelerates any deterioration, because it will tend to suck in moisture laden air.

Ah, thanks for this, i will now refrain from squeezing it.

bdial · Jun 13, 2016

I don't use HC-110 very much, but have never bothered squeezing it, and it has worked fine.

ann · Jun 13, 2016

We have had folks give our school lots of stuff including hc110. As this is. Class I don't use it; however , I have had advanced students take some really old stuff home for their use and the results have been fine

John Bragg · Jun 13, 2016

I divide mine into smaller bottles, purely for convenience. I never bother to squeeze air out though and never a problem even after several years.

DWThomas · Jun 13, 2016

John Bragg said:
I divide mine into smaller bottles, purely for convenience. I never bother to squeeze air out though and never a problem even after several years.

That's what I do also. I'm not sure it's necessary, but especially now that it comes in one liter bottles. it's much easier to handle. (And if in a moment of stupid I should introduce a contaminant, I haven't trashed my whole stock!)

kreeger · Jun 13, 2016

I have been using HC-110 since it came in an 8oz bottle that was square, in the early 1970s. I suspect I have been through probably 10 bottles of HC-110, and never - ever - had a problem with it or a bad bottle.
For reference to the need to baby HC110 shelf life, here's my current setup for HC110.

I have one unopened bottle, pre Kodak bankruptcy, made in USA marked "Use before 2011", and one older bottle that I have been working on since 5/2007. That bottle from 2007 was the same 16oz bottle type but developed a small crack and leaked.
When that happened, I used a glass milk bottle with some 2 extra layers of kitchen "cling wrap" and the press on blue cap. Developed many rolls and sheets the last 9 years with that using dilution B and dilution E.
I just developed 12 sheets of 4x5 with a quart of dilution B last weekend.

Long live HIGHLY CONCENTRATED formula 110...!!!

Gerald C Koch · Jun 13, 2016

HC=110 appears to need no special storage considerations other than to protect it from freezing.

Fujicaman1957 · Jun 13, 2016

John Bragg is right..talk to a druggist and see if they will sell you some 4 Oz. bottles. I've used HC110 that had been stored that way for over 5 years and it was just fine.

Jeff Bradford · Jun 13, 2016

I spray a little butane into the bottle before I put the cap on. Apparently this is unnecessary.

wy2l · Jun 13, 2016

Please, please add a label. That stuff sure looks like iced yea (yum, yum...).

jvo · Jun 13, 2016

love hc-110 - i've kept it in the original bottle until it was empty - never had a problem!

tokam · Jun 14, 2016

Be careful squeezing the round bottles of concentrate. I recently threw out a half-full bottle that had cracked and leaked after it had been crammed into a plastic crate with other containers. It was still going well 4 years after it's expiry date. I probably should have salvaged the rest of the bottle but I didn't have suitable bottles and I was more concerned with cleaning up the mess.

My 'new' bottle of HC-110, opened a few weeks ago, has an expiry date in 2014 but I expect it to be good for years to come. After each use I top off the bottle with Protectan spray, (butane?), even though it's probably not required. Just don't crack or split the bottle.

mshchem · Jun 15, 2016

I converted to XTOL when it came out. I used HC-110 for years before. I kept a 1 gallon bottle of Dilution B, this was back when they still sold a separate replenisher. I replenished that gallon for probably 2 years before I got nervous and started a new batch. Never missed a beat. Still probably the best all around ready to use developer around.
Best Mike

HiHoSilver · Jun 15, 2016

'Just another Thanks to all for the kind help - it was a question for me too.

frank · Jun 15, 2016

Hc-110 has great keeping qualities with no special care. It's like Rodinal that way. Some people use glass marbles to keep the liquid level close to the top to minimize oxidation by air above the liquid, but it lasts long time without.

Storing Kodak HC110

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